News

Wisdom for the Season: New Testament Lessons
Align with Chapel Day Camp Experiences

Left: Melissa Madden, from The Good Life Farm CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) visited, letting the children taste fresh fruits and vegetables, yogurt, and applesauce. Center: The children voted crafts, especially bead crafts, as Church Day Camp activity they enjoyed the most! Eva (tall girl in blue at right) was our junior assistant, helping with crafts and everywhere during the week. Thank you, Eva! Right: Outdoor relay races and games let the kids burn off energy.

right now

Give your entire attention

to what God is doing right now,

and don’t get worked up

about what may or may not

happen tomorrow.

God will help you deal

with whatever hard things come up

when the time comes.

Matthew 6:34 (The Message translation quotes)

+++

September 2, 2014Forest Home Chapel members and friends continue their faithful commitment to be a friendly, growing, spiritual home for young Christians. The last week of August, ten resourceful Chapel adults conducted Church Day Camp for 17 young Chapel members and their friends, with Bible lessons, songs, crafts, games, visitors, cooking lessons and healthy snacks, all centered on the theme of “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” We are most indebted and thankful for the inspired joint leadership of retired elementary school Principal Sue Reid and Pastor Rebecca Dolch. Jack Reid led us in song, and enjoyed the children’s company during breakout activities.

Our mission offering went to Heifer International (www.heifer.org). Some of the children presented Heifer “success stories” about families worldwide, who benefited from gifts of chickens, fish, fruit trees, or milk cows. We saw our children growing in maturity and expression, as well as forming closer friendships with each other, a most desired goal of our leaders. The mood was happy, relaxed, and unhurried, a last camp for the kids before school starts. We’re so thankful for our beloved children and Chapel families.

Left: Retired grade school teacher Mary Bowes shepherded the youngest campers throughout the day. Her upbeat leadership skills were most appreciated. Center: “God’s creation is very good” banner the children created during Bible passage lesson. Right: James, marching towards playtime. We were blessed with 17 happy, healthy kids.

treasure

The place where your treasure is,

is the place you will most want to be,

and end up being.

Matthew 6:21

+++

Left: Freya and Charles learned how to fold frog puppets. Center: Apiarist Peter Borst visited on Tuesday, bringing live bees and bee knowledge. The kids in the youngest group leaned right in to find the queen bee. Right: Ana and Colette were fascinated with Elizabeth McMahon’s frog puppetry.

wide-eyed

If you live wide-eyed

in wonder and belief,

your body fills up with light.

Luke 11:34

+++

Left: Gracie assisted Pastor Rebecca in learning our first Bible lesson: “God’s creation is very good!” Center: We were so fortunate to have eight-year-old twins Maria and Lucia from Uruguay attend camp. Fazilee Buechel (back, center) generously gave her time and skill each morning to translate from English to Spanish for the girls and their parents, Rosa and Juan. Right: Experienced home-school parent Wendy Millroy assisted Anderson in creating a milk jug planter head with living grass hair.

bonus

Give away your life, you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back— given back with bonus and blessing…. Generosity begets generosity.

Luke 6:38

+++

Left: Educator Carolyn McPherson made learning Bible lessons fun. Lydia and Freya helped act out the Miracle of the loaves and fishes lesson. Center: Carolyn’s granddaughter Eva created wonderful stick puppets the children used to act out the story of Moses and the miracles in the desert. Right: Bethany with chickens puppet.

readiness

The disciples came up and asked,

Why do you tell stories?”

[Jesus] replied,

Whenever someone has a ready heart…

the insights and understandings flow freely.

But if there is no readiness,

any trace of receptivity soon disappears.

That’s why I tell stories:

to create readiness, to nudge people

toward receptive insight.

Matthew 13:10-14

+++

Left: Former teacher Debbie Novelli enjoyed leading the older “Veggies” group of children. Center: Artist Elizabeth McMahon brought her frog puppet and warm gentle humor to engage the children at craft time. Right: Pastor Rebecca with Leland, who is growing in wisdom and stature before our delighted eyes.

a word

A small rudder on a huge ship

in the hands of a skilled captain

sets a course

in the face of the strongest winds.

A word out of your mouth

may seem of no account,

but it can accomplish nearly anything

—or destroy it!

James 3:3b-5

+++

Left: For morning worship, children entered the sanctuary and placed their Heifer International offering boxes on the altar rail. We were able to raise $162.80, enough for two flocks of chickens, a planting of fruit trees, and two hives of bees, plus training for all, for several fortunate Heifer recipient families. Center: Pastor Rebecca presented Jesus’ story, “I am the vine, you are the branches,” and served the children simplified communion. Right: Scientist and baker Susan Spear presented “hands-in” lessons about eggs and butter, and took the children through the messy, fun steps of making bread.

holy mystery

They all realized

they were in a place of holy mystery,

that God was at work among them.

Luke 7:16

+++

Left: A sprouted grass head. Center: Educator Paula Winner cheerfully and skillfully led the older children, here writing their names with seeds for the Bible lesson, “A sower went out to sow.” Right: Maria and Lucia and their parents presented the Chapel Day Camp with a beautiful thank-you card, including a special prayer of thanks.